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Last 5 Meetings

Morton Manager Allan Moore is hoping that seeing some old faces when his side host St. Johnstone will help change his luck after a wretched time on and off the park since his side defeated Celtic in the last round of the Scottish League Cup.

Moore’s elder brother Steven died within 24 hours of the Greenock side’s 1-0 extra time success at Parkhead and as well as being hit by injuries, losing four times and drawing once in the five games since that win the 48 year old also recently caught someone trying to break into his house.

Morton’s latest defeat came in injury time at the weekend when they lost 2-1 at Raith Rovers and Moore said: “I really don’t know who I have upset to have had this run of misfortune. It has been a horrible time but one thing that keeps driving me forward is that I know this Morton team will turn the corner.”

“In some ways it is nice to be playing St. Johnstone as it has brought back some great memories from my playing career. I was there for 5 years and I reckon I played the best football of my career at Perth. We were a great attacking team under Alex Totten and were promoted to the Premier League and stayed there for a few years.”

Despite recalling happier times the under pressure Morton boss is no mood to give the Saints an easy passage into the semi-finals as he said: “As well as the Celtic game we played really well against the Championship leaders Hamilton in our last home game. We know what we are capable of and if we can do that against St. Johnstone then we have a chance.”

“We have been badly hit by injuries all season however we have shown that we can win in a big game already when we beat Celtic and hopefully we can show that again. It would be terrific to give our season a huge shot in the arm by winning this game.”

Moore added: “St. Johnstone had a good win at the weekend but if we all pull together then we have a chance of winning despite our lack of bodies.”

Tomas Peciar is a doubt for the visit of the Perth men after picking up a knock at Stark’s Park on Saturday with Scott Taggart, Thomas O’Ware and David O’Brien all ruled out.

St. Johnstone welcome back defender Frazer Wright after a ban kept him out of his side’s 2-0 win over Motherwell at the weekend.

Not such good news for the Perth men is the continued absence through injury of Steven Anderson, David Robertson and Steven MacLean.

McDiarmid Park boss Tommy Wright is looking to lead his men closer to a first Cup Final appearance in over 15 years however he is wary of Morton.

Wright said: “Morton may well be bottom of the Championship but they have good players in their squad. They must have to be the only team in Scotland to have beaten Celtic this season. They have already shown that in a one-off game they can beat the best side in the country so we have to be ready for a really tough game.”

“We have prepared like we are facing a Premiership club and will not be underestimating them in any way. It is a long time since St. Johnstone were in a Final and it would be great to take a step closer to getting to one by beating Morton.”